An IHOP franchisee operating in North and South Carolina owes $95,095 in back wages after a DOL investigation found cooks were paid straight time for overtime hours. The agency has recently narrowed when it will pursue liquidated damages, which can…
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A new proposed rule from the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration outlines how 401(k) fiduciaries must assess alternative assets like private equity, private credit and real estate under ERISA’s prudence standard. The proposal includes a six-factor safe harbor…
A federal court found a worker had been misclassified and identified more than 800 hours of potential overtime. But the Fifth Circuit still upheld a jury verdict denying overtime pay. The case draws a clear line between compliance risk and…
A residential construction company in Idaho learned how payroll errors can quickly turn into significant financial exposure. After a federal wage-and-hour investigation, Speedy’s Framing LLC agreed to pay $293,698 in back wages to 56 employees, along with a $24,795 civil…
Interest rates for the second quarter will drop, the IRS recently announced. According to Revenue Ruling 2026-5, the rates for April, May and June of 2026 will be: Overpayments -- 6% (down from 7%) Corporate overpayments -- 5% (down from…
A California carwash has agreed to a $1.2M settlement to resolve wage theft allegations, according to the California Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO). The seven-figure payout averages $52,174 per affected employee across 23 workers, with individual settlements ranging from $8,500 to…
The Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued a Federal Register notice, increasing the minimum wage for certain federal contractors. Here are the details contained in the February 9, 2026, notice. First, it’s important to clarify that the rate change applies to federal contracts…
A Little Caesars franchisee will pay $409,457 for federal wage and hour violations, the Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced. The case shows how payroll mistakes turn into expensive liabilities when overtime calculations and recordkeeping controls fall short. Payroll Mistakes…
Who’s an employee and who’s an independent contractor? When making that determination for wage and hour compliance, businesses may soon have fewer restrictions. That’s because the Department of Labor (DOL) recently released a proposed rule on classifying workers, and it’s…
In a single month, federal regulators proposed $831,545 in OSHA penalties connected to workplace fatalities across four states and multiple industries, including construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and industrial energy. Seven employers now face enforcement actions tied to incidents that resulted in…
The IRS summarized several tax provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) in the 2026 version of Publication 15. Publication 15 is called the Employer’s Tax Guide -- or sometimes, Circular E. Of special interest to Payroll pros,…
Employers in states that have paid family and medical leave programs will be relieved to know the IRS has extended its reporting deadline. In fact, employers have an extra year to add information about this type of paid time off…
